A political analyst and good governance advocate, Chima Nnaji, has said that it would be foolish of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to think that the opposition coalition flagged on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) can’t sweep it out of power in 2027.
The commentator was a guest on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily programme on Thursday.
Watch video:
Vice President Kashim Shettima has called for immediate and united action to close Nigeria’s widening skills gap, describing it as a national priority critical to economic transformation.
This is just as the Federal Government has hinted at a proposal for the review of existing skills training centres across several Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of government to align their work and functions with national development goals.
The Vice President, who spoke on Thursday during the 6th meeting of the National Council on Skills (NCS) at the Presidential Villa, noted that the council’s mandate is to develop a strategic workforce capable of meeting Nigeria’s evolving economic demands.
READ ALSO: FG Loses $4bn To Imported Steel Products Annually – Minister
“What binds us together supersedes whatever divides us. We have to make this country work. We need to fill in the skills gap,” he said.
VP Shettima pointed out that the council has a mission to strategically position Nigeria’s workforce to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving economy.
“This council was established with a clear mandate to drive the strategic development of the skilled workforce that can contribute meaningfully to national growth and prosperity,” he added.
The Vice President described the session as an open forum where positions were aired and important decisions were taken, emphasising that stakeholder engagement, consensus-building, and decisive leadership are essential to fixing Nigeria’s skills and employment crisis.
A major highlight of the meeting was the proposal for a National Skills Infrastructure Audit to create a centralised database of all training facilities, verify their functionality, and identify gaps or overlaps in infrastructure.
“The government’s policy trajectory is to strengthen human capital development for national growth and industry through skills development. However, unless the skills infrastructure across MDAs is optimised, this vision will remain unattainable,” the council noted.
The audit will also involve physical verification of centres and a detailed cataloguing of operational training facilities, ensuring alignment with national occupational standards and labour market needs.
Earlier, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa, made a presentation on the National Artisan Skills Acquisition Programme (NASAP), an initiative aimed at training 10,000 artisans annually in high-demand construction trades.
The programme is designed to formalise Nigeria’s informal artisan sector by providing certification and onboarding qualified artisans onto a Digital Artisan Marketplace.
“The overall goal of NASAP is to establish a reliable and competent artisan workforce to drive the Ministry’s housing and infrastructure agenda while empowering Nigeria’s youth with employable skills,” the Minister said.
The Minister of Steel, Shuaibu Audu, says Federal Government loses a total of $4 billion annually in foreign exchange to imported steel products.
He disclosed this during a press conference on Thursday to announce the maiden National Steel Summit coming up on July 15, 2025.
Audu assured Nigerians that before the expiration of the first term of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, the first section of the Ajaokuta Steel Plant should kickstart operation.
READ ALSO: Tunji-Ojo Meets With US Envoy, Says FG Will Curb Overstay By Nigerians
He stated that President Tinubu has been actively working to ensure the utilisation of the abundant raw steel materials in Nigeria and the emergence of a steel sector in the country.
A former Edo State governor, Godwin Obaseki, says he has left the legal outcome of the 2024 governorship election in the hands of God to deliver divine justice.
Obaseki stated this while reacting to Supreme Court judgment which affirmed the election of Monday Okpebholo of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as the governor of Edo State, upholding the decision of the Court of Appeal in Abuja.
In a statement, the former governor said that while he believed that the election was won by the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, Asue Ighodalo, he and other supporters of the party were bound by the verdict of the apex court.
Obaseki, who was the governor from 2016 to 2024, said “I am profoundly grateful to the good people of Edo State and Nigerians for their overwhelming support for the victory, which we believe our party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), its candidate, Dr. Asue Ighodalo and his running mate, Osarodion Ogie, won in the Edo State Governorship Election, which took place on September 21, 2024.
READ ALSO: Supreme Court Affirms Okpehbolo’s Election As Edo Gov
“It is based on this conviction, and our belief that the results were manipulated that we took steps to seek legal redress, beginning with the Election Petition Tribunal, then the Court of Appeal, and finally, the Supreme Court. But unfortunately, and most surprisingly, all the courts have ruled against us.
“Although we strongly disagree with the decision of the Supreme Court, but as adherents to the rule of law, we are bound by their verdict.”
While stating that the manner in which the election was conducted portends grave danger for Nigeria’s democracy, he, however, encouraged the people to keep hope alive.
“We, however, want to caution that the iconic manner in which the Edo election was manipulated, coupled with the judicial validation it has received, portends grave danger for Nigeria’s democracy.
As people of faith, we leave our matter in God’s hands, trusting that only He knows the appropriate time and manner to deliver divine justice and redemption to our people. I encourage our people to keep hope alive as we persist in the struggle to redeem our fatherland,” he added.
A five-man panel led by Justice Mohammed Garba Lawal held that the appellants – the PDP and Ighodalo – could not establish their claims of election non-compliance, unlawful votes, and that Okpebholo was not duly elected.
The appeal was dismissed for lacking merit.
The verdict came about 11 months after the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared Okpebholo as the winner of the Edo governorship election, stating that he got 291,667 votes, beating Ighodalo, his closest rival, who garnered 247,274 votes.
Unsatisfied with the conduct of the exercise, Ighodalo and the PDP took the matter to court, alleging that the election was fraught with irregularities.
They asked the court to nullify the poll over allegations of non-compliance with the tenets of the Electoral Act 2022.
In April 2025, the election tribunal said the petitioners failed to prove the allegations against the respondents.
Okpebholo extended a “sincere olive branch to all his opponents and members of the opposition”.
“The elections are over; the real work of governance and healing must begin,” he said in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua.
But Ighodalo faulted the court’s decision, describing it as a betrayal.
The Senate has called on President Bola Tinubu to, on compassionate grounds, assist the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in paying a ₦200 million compensation to the family of two-year-old Ivan Omhonrina, who was killed during an NDLEA operation in Asaba, Delta State.
This followed a petition submitted on Thursday by the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Ethics, Senator Neda Imaseun.
The tragic incident occurred on July 13, 2023, when NDLEA officers reportedly opened fire during a raid, fatally striking the toddler as he returned home from school.
The case had sparked public outrage and demands for justice from civil society groups as well as the victim’s family.
During plenary, the Senate condemned the killing and urged that the NDLEA take full responsibility by bearing the total cost of the compensation being demanded by the family.
Lawmakers stressed that such incidents must not go unaddressed, underscoring the need for accountability within law enforcement agencies.
In a mark of respect, the Senate observed a minute of silence in memory of the late Ivan.
Furthermore, the it directed its Committee on Legislative Compliance to monitor the implementation of the resolution and report back to the chamber within two months.
The family of deceased had sought justice over the death of their son allegedly killed during a raid by the agency in the Okapanam Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State.
Ivan’s brother, who was also injured during the incident, was taken to a hospital for treatment.
Narrating the incident, the grieving father of Ivan said his son was looking forward to his graduation ceremony in school before his life was cut short following the unfortunate incident.
He insisted that justice be served on the matter.
The state governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, had in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Festus Ahon, called on the NDLEA and the police to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of the boy and injury to his brother, with a view to bringing the culprits to book and avoiding a future occurrence.
The NDLEA had also said it would get to the root of the case and take necessary action.
The presidency on Thursday denied claims that President Bola Tinubu stopped the issuance of five-year multiple-entry visas to United States citizens.
On Tuesday, the US announced a major change to its visa policy for Nigeria, reducing the validity period and entry allowance for most non-immigrant and non-diplomatic visas issued to citizens.
Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, said that no such directive was given and described the claims as misinformation.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has never stopped issuing five-year multiple-entry visas for U.S. citizens. This continues in line with existing bilateral agreements and the principle of reciprocity,” Onanuga said in a statement issued on Thursday.
He stated that shortly after assuming office, President Tinubu directed all federal agencies to uphold Nigeria’s international agreements and maintain reciprocal diplomatic policies.
Onanuga noted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had previously clarified Nigeria’s position following the U.S. government’s recent adjustment of its non-immigrant visa policy towards Nigerians.
READ ALSO: FG Raises Concern Over US Visa Rule, Calls For Reconsideration
“Immediately after assuming office, President Tinubu’s administration issued a service-wide directive that Nigeria implement all bilateral agreements with other nations and adhere to the principle of reciprocity in diplomatic relations.
“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has clearly stated the position of the Federal Government of Nigeria on the recent adjustment made by the United States’ non-immigrant visa policy for Nigerians.
“The Ministry and other senior government officials will continue to engage with the United States to address the unfavourable restrictions in a just and fair manner that reflects the mutual respect and partnership that so exist between our two friendly nations.
“We want to reiterate that the US government’s claim of reciprocity as the reason for its current visa policy towards Nigeria does not accurately reflect the actual situation.
“The Nigerian government has not deviated from granting US citizens a 5-year multiple-entry non-immigrant visa, just as the US has continued to grant the same to Nigerians.
“The 90-day single-entry Visa validity period only applies to the newly introduced e-Visas, a short-term visa category for tourists and business people who may not wish to undergo the standard visa application process and wait. The e-visa replaces the now obsolete Visa-on-arrival, which was inefficient and often used as a means of extortion. The e-visa is a fast, online process that does not require the applicant to go to the embassy. Applicants receive the e-Visa within 48 hours of submitting their application.
“The e-visa policy aligns with President Tinubu’s efforts to boost investment, trade, and tourism in the country, as well as promote the ease of doing business for non-nationals. Moreover, e-visas are a widely adopted global policy in dozens of countries.
“Although Nigeria has an e-visa policy for citizens of the US and several other countries, the US has not reciprocated this gesture for Nigerians.